The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(60)

“I have already proven I know how to bypass their natural immunity to magic. If they do turn on us. I will eliminate them all,” Jala said firmly.

“It required you to destroy your own body to achieve that ability,” Neph snapped.

Jala nodded slowly and met his eyes with a look of pure resolve. “Hemlock visited me four days after I returned from the Barrier. I was ready to kill him on sight. You know how much I hate him, Neph. The first words out of his mouth gave me pause, though. He sm iled at me and motioned toward the sky and said. You saw it didn’t you. The reason you have suffered so much. I didn’t have to ask him what he was talking about. I knew. He said that everything I have been through has been nothing more than honing the blade. He said that the trials that are coming will make this war seem like sitting down to tea. He said Myth is going to win unless I act.” Jala paused and tapped the table before her. “I’m acting and Myth isn’t going to win. The Barrier isn’t coming down and Sanctuary will not fall. I am honed and I am ready, and if you aren’t willing to help me save this wretched world, then bugger off.”

“And saving the Blights will save the world?” Zach asked quietly, his expression thoughtful.

“It’s a common tactic to turn your enemies’ strength against them. If you are fighting a dragon, you use its size against it. The Blights are one of Myth’s strengths,” War said with a smirk as he finally joined them at the table. “I would guess that you are asking yourselves why Jala believes anything that Hemlock would say. The answer is simple. She believes him because I agree. Sanctuary has many secrets. There is more locked away in this prison than any of you know. The Guardians built this world to lock away all that would destroy the worlds beyond and not all of it is awake. History tends to repeat itself, gentlemen. We have fought these evils before. The difference was, we weren’t locked down when we faced them. We could retreat and we could hide. On Sanctuary, neither is an option. When we fight here it is to the death. You might make peace with your current enemies, but you won’t find peace with what Myth awakens.”

“What exactly is coming?” Havoc asked softly, his gaze moving from Jala to War. There seemed to be a bit of concern in his expression, though the Firym were typically fearless.

“I wish I had a single answer for that,” War said wistfully and smiled at them all. “Until Myth is stopped, the question isn’t what is coming, it’s what is coming first. As I said, there are many secrets on Sanctuary and not even I can say what we will face first. All I can say for fact is Myth wants you all dead and Kali has failed with her creations. Myth’s next step will be a more drastic one. Myth is arrogant enough to believe she will survive the ancients if she wakes them. I’m not.”

“The only option we have is to pool our strength. My army proves that we can work together if we try. Now all I have to do is get everyone to put their differences aside before it’s too late. I am preparing, gentlemen, and I have no idea how much time I have. So, to put it bluntly, my boot will be up your asses until I have you exactly where I think you need to be.” Jala smiled at War as she settled back into her chair. “I’m so glad you chose to join us at the table, Grandpa,” she added with a wink.

“So, tell me where Delvay needs to be. I’ve seen how pointy your boots are,” Neph said with a sigh as he settled more comfortably into his chair. From what he had heard so far, it was going to be a long night. “I don’t understand half of what you are saying, Jala, but, as always, I’ve got your back.”





Chapter 6





Merro





Zoelyn leaned back from the table and regarded the heaping plate of food before her with frustration. There was no possible way she could eat this much food, but Jala had become convinced she was underfed. Even Valor’s arguments that you didn’t overfeed the starving didn’t save her from the mountains of food at every meal.

Her gaze slowly moved to Neph and she fought back the desire to kick the man. Had he not mentioned her clothing to Jala, the High Lady would have never made her remove her coat and no one would have ever known how thin she was. The sight of her jutting ribs and too thin arms had sent Jala into such a fit of anger it had taken both Neph and Valor to keep her from returning to Arovan to vent her anger on Dominic.

“Quit glaring at me and eat your damned food like a good little girl,” Neph growled, his eyes never leaving the courtyard where Jala was sparing with Vaze.